"Hey," I greeted Jia when I opened the door to let her into my unit.
"Hi," Jia greeted back and kissed me on the cheek.
I pretended that I did not get goosebumps because of that.
Jia put down her gym bag and took off her shoes before going to my couch. She seemed tired.
"Kumusta sina Ate Den at Ate Ella? Kumusta na raw si Ate Ly?" Jia asked referring to my lunch date earlier with the two members of Team Besh.
I sat down beside Jia first and she made herself comfortable and laid her head on my lap and closed her eyes.
"Well, Ate Ells is still the same Ate Ells. She's so matakaw. Ate Den's leaving in two days and I found out Ate Ly threatened to shut her out if she didn't go. Ate Den said Ate Ly is still the same Ate Ly who threw us out of her house," I said with a sigh.
Jia sighed, too.
"So I guess hindi pa rin tayo welcome bumisita? Who will look after Ate Ly while Ate Den's gone?"
"Si Ate Kim daw at si Ate Ella."
Jia sighed.
"Nalulungkot ako para kay Ate Den."
I agreed.
"You don't really think Ate Ly can push away Ate Den, diba? Halos buong buhay na ni Ate Den ang iniaalay niya kay Ate Ly, eh."
I let out another deep breath. Ate Ly's situation was really sad but Ate Den's situation was also difficult.
"Ate Ly has changed, Jia. I wouldn't put it past her."
Jia was frowning when she opened her eyes.
"Bei, let's be like Ate Den, okay? Kahit na gaano kahirap, let's not give up on each other."
I smiled wistfully at Jia as I nodded.
"Of course, Jia."
Jia smiled back and closed her eyes again. She fell asleep in no time.
I wondered if Jia knew Ate Den was hopelessly in love with Ate Ly. To endure that much, you're either a saint or in love.
I wondered if Jia knew how painful it was to love someone and not be loved in return.
Not that it has anything to do with our friendship, but I still wondered.
-
Liking Jia was never easy.
It wasn't easy to control my feelings around her especially when she was clingy and happy around me. But more than that, it wasn't easy to see her still in love with Miguel.
I've said it before. It wasn't always good days with Jia. She was moving on, yes, but there were days when she would be quiet and sad just reminiscing her relationship with Miguel.
And before, it didn't affect me. I would be there for Jia just talking to her about it. I'd buy her a box of chocobutter doughnuts and we'd talk until we finish all of it. I would be there comforting her.
But now, as I do those things, I am also in pain.
It was my fault really.
Jia hesitated to talk to me about Miguel but I insisted that it was okay, I'm her best friend.
As her best friend, it was okay. As someone who likes her, it was painful and God, I am so damn jealous of Miguel.
Sometimes, I just want to throw away my phone or not open social media at all because somehow, JiaGuel keeps popping up on my feed. It's like I get it already! Walang patutunguhan ang nararamdaman ko but can the universe please stop rubbing it in my face?
